"Listen, Lucy: Tonight was my first encounter with Listen, Lucy. Everyone has a story, a unique one that makes them who they are. Each of our stories have different chapters, different hardships, different obstacles we hurdle to come to where we are. Reflecting on some of the stories I felt maybe a small part of my story, just one chapter could be of value to someone else.

"Listen, Lucy: I graduated from high school in 2008, and have since gone on to marry the love of my life and give birth to a beautiful daughter. She is the reason I feel the need to s hare my story, because I don't want her to ever doubt her abilities, worth in this world, or be ashamed of her journey.

"Listen Lucy: I'm not really sure I have a story to be quite honest. So many others have gone through things much worse than I have; have had so much more hardship to endure. Who am I to be writing on this page from a college dorm room with a full stomach and loving friends and family by my side? But maybe that's the problem. "

I feel very alone. I just got out of a long-term relationship and I know it was for the best and that he wasn't someone I should spend my life with, but it still hurts. It hurts because I thought I was going to spend my life with him. It hurts because I thought he was committed and that he deeply loved me in the same way I loved him. It hurts because he got caught up in another girl and couldn't even decide what to do. It hurts because he wasn't mature enough to handle who I've grown to be and who I'm becoming, and it hurts because I was blindsided by it all. It hurts because I thought he had integrity and character and instead I find out that the person I've loved for so many years isn't who I thought he was.

I have been bullied all my life. Through elementary school, I was called fat and ugly. And even through middle school, I've been called worse than that. I was sitting in reading, and the kid behind me said, "At least it's better than being a guy like her," and he pointed at me. Some days I'll come to

Tuesday is a giant day for our country. It is going to make history. You are going to learn about this some day in school. There are actually a ton of things going on right now that you are going to learn about in school. That being said, there are some things that I want to say now while I am feeling them. There are things I want you to know, things you need to know

This is what it felt like when I was depressed last year. I'm afraid that it will come again; I don't think it will, but it's always in the back of my mind that the sad feelings will come again, and this time, I won't be able to get back to normal.

On August 8, 2016, I tried to commit suicide. I took 100 500 mg acetaminophen pills with the express hope that my liver would stop functioning and that I would die. My fiance called 911 and I was rushed to the local hospital, denying to the police, the emts, the nurses, and the doctors that I had taken anything

This is my story. Ever since I was in second grade I was having trouble with school. I was falling behind everyone else. I never understood what things meant. I got held back 1 year in second grade because I was slow. then I found out that I am dyslexic.

It was easier, throughout high school and most of college, to assume I'd always be the single one, going it alone. It didn't bother me much; I packed my schedule and was always studying, always the headstrong one who didn't have time to let another person in let alone risking loving or depending on them. The anxiety that has crippled so many in my family also contributed, perhaps, to wanting to isolate myself a bit; because I knew that if and when that side of me ever creeped out, it'd get ugly quickly.

Throughout my life, I have been witness to too many unfortunate events: the loss of a dear friend to a brain tumor, multiple overdoses, one of those being someone who was very close to me, and the recent death of a close college friends younger, beloved brother. Each and every one of these tragedies has, and continues, to tear me up.

Today has been, in a nutshell, chaotic and horrible. I hit my breaking point. I couldn’t get a grip. I was breaking out in hives. I was crying in the break room during my lunch and I was telling myself that I am a failure. Then, I text one of my favorite friends, Hannah, who has been in my corner since we have met and she said to me, “Write about it, post it, and inspire someone who thinks they’re the only one feeling not good enough.”

I read these stories, but it never occurred to me that I should share mine. I think it is probably because for the past decade I have been doing well. So well that I almost forgot what it was like to not be well, almost forgetting my story of where I have been.

10 years ago, I was married to a wonderful man; generous, kind, financially stable. On paper, it seemed like I had it all. To the rest of the world, I did. There was only one problem, I wasn't happy. I was an empty vessel, lonely, bored longing for something that was missing. It was just around that same time that I met someone else. Oddly enough, someone else who was going through the same things in their life that I was in mine. We became friends. I liked having this person in my life who understood me and understood how I felt. But that's where things got complicated. We both quickly realized that the thing missing in each of our lives--was each other. I loved him. He loved me. But this was far from the perfect love story. We had to end our marriages and start a new life. Start all over again.

My dad is the most inspirational person that I have ever been lucky enough I know. He is hilarious. He is so wise and kind and weird. He cares more about his lawn than most and he loves The Eagles. He is spiritual and open-minded. He lives every day of his life for others and has shown me what is important-- what real success is-- and that the important things in life really aren’t things. He is pure good.